Mizo defender Laldinliana Renthlei, who wore Chennaiyin’s blue for a couple of seasons, has also joined JFC. Coyle knows the players that he left behind really well, but doesn’t believe that it is an advantage. “Obviously, we know CFC’s strengths,” he said.

“But, I have always felt that when you come up against your old team and players, they want to show you that they are still the top players you believed they were. So, we will be very respectful of them,” added Coyle. The signing of Valskis will no doubt add teeth to Jamshedpur’s attack. But, Coyle will be aware that more pressing problems lie elsewhere.

JFC conceded 35 goals last season, with only Hyderabad FC (HFC) having a more porous defence. It remains to be seen whether the captures of former Sunderland defender Peter Hartley and Nigerian centre-back Stephen Eze will improve things.

For CFC, the biggest task will be to fill the gaps left behind by departing players. Of the foreign contingent from ISL Season 6, only new captain Rafael Crivellaro and Eli Sabia remain. Head coach Csaba Laszlo would hope for good performances from new recruits Jakub Sylvestr, Esmael ‘Isma’ Goncalves, Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev and Enes Sipovic.